Off LTIR and Right Back On

New York, NY. In a nutshell, the trade for Jacob Trouba has been a complete disaster. At least thus far, and possibly until the end of the season. The star defenseman, who suffered a serious injury in his very first game for the Rangers after coming to Broadway in a trade for Jake McCabe, has now “celebrated” his return. For just one game. For just one period of play, to be precise.

In his New York Rangers’ 6-4 win, he sustained a rib injury shortly after the start of the middle frame and is expected to be out for at least another week this time. One game later, in the Blueshirts’ surprising 2-1 overtime victory at the Dallas Stars, Trouba’s fellow defenseman Braden Schneider was also helped off the ice. Schneider is expected to be sidelined for at least a week due to a fractured metatarsal in his left foot.

Meanwhile, the Rangers hold on to the second wild-card spot and thus the last playoff berth by a razor-thin margin but will have to make do with only four regular defensemen in the upcoming games. Kevin Bahl and Libor Hajek from the Hartford Wolf Pack farm team will replace the two sidelined defenseman on the pro roster.